I'm a fighter. And since putting up the fight of my life almost six years ago, I've continued to look for new ways to challenge myself regularly — from mud runs and rock climbing to career changes and professional pursuits. Through all of this, I've found that I can do anything. Which is why I've decided to push my limits, both physically and mentally, by signing up to run the 2017 Chicago Marathon.

Rather than entering the lottery, I've opted to run for a charity: Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA) of Cook County. Not only does this guarantee my entry in the marathon this October, it gives me a chance to fundraise for a great organization. Learn more about CASA below.

ABOUT 2017 Chicago Marathon

For over 30 years, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cook County has been training everyday people to stand up for children that have experienced abuse and neglect in an overwhelmed and extremely under-resourced foster care system. Today there are anywhere between 5,800 to 6,000 children in Cook County’s foster care system—and CASA of Cook County can only provide one-on-one support for less than 6 percent of them. Because of our limited resources, our volunteer advocates are court-appointed for cases deemed most in need of individual, dedicated support. Learn more about our work here: http://bit.ly/CASA_Cook_Cty